Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the backdrop of rising attacks against Christians in the country.
The Congress leader claimed that this year's Christmas celebrations were marked by "terror and violence" in some BJP-ruled states.
The MP from Kerala said Modi's silence has emboldened those who are trying to spread hatred. Venugopal pointed out that there were attacks on Christians in Kerala, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
A children's carol group was attacked in Palakkad, Kerala, while women and children were verbally abused for wearing Santa Claus hats in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar, he said.
Venugopal said in Raipur, a group barged into Magneto Mall and vandalised Christmas trees and decorations while mob attacked two churches and Christian homes in Kanker, Chhattisgarh.
Prayer gatherings in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were disrupted, including those attended by children with visual and hearing difficulties in Jabalpur, the Congress leader added.
"How can we preach 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', when the state abandons its citizens to mob rule," he asked.
Pointing out that attacks on Christian denominations are not an isolated incident, he said there is a deliberate attempt by right-wing outfits to spread hatred and humiliate minorities.
The silence of the Prime Minister and the administration has emboldened hate mongers, the letter said. He said it is an open invitation for the attackers to inflict violence on minorities. "This is unacceptable," he asserted.
With New Year's Day celebrations approaching, the government should take maximum precautions to prevent attacks, adds the letter. Pointing out that "moments of joy" have turned into "nights of terror", Venugopal called for immediate action to prevent recurrence of such attacks.
"Therefore, I demand an immediate and decisive action from the government to look into this matter on utmost priority and ensure that such incidents of violence do not occur, while ensuring that the people of the nation have the right to profess the religion of their choice without fear," he added.
